For years I’ve witnessed Braver Angels bridge America’s red-blue divide. At moments like this I feel conflicted — but I still believe in this work.
Hilary Hodge January 30, 2026
Monroe County, Indiana has been described as “a blueberry floating in tomato soup.” Even though Trump won the state handily in 2024, the county is so liberal that Bloomington, its main city, does not have a single elected Republican. Relationships between red and blue politicians in Monroe are charged and often erupt in vitriolic exchanges on social media.
Weary of this division, local activist Don Byrd decided a few years ago to try an experiment. He brought together 11 Democratic and Republican politicians in Monroe County — including a state senator and representative — to spend a day building a house for Habitat for Humanity. The group met at 8 a.m. and worked side by side all day on a home for a woman, her two children and their grandmother. And it went beautifully. They had such a great time that their first question at the end of the day was: When are we going to get started on the next house?
Living Room Conversations 